Connor Jessup, 22, is a Canadian actor, best known for his role as Ben Mason on TNT’s Falling Skies. In 2012, Jessup’s performance in Blackbird earned him a “Rising Star” accolade, and he was later named one of Variety’s “Actors to Watch”. (Getty)

CMT PREMIERES KIEFER SUTHERLAND’S “SHIRLEY JEAN”

Kiefer Sutherland’s cinematic “Shirley Jean” video, which tells the story of a man’s last night on death row, taking the form of a goodbye letter to a woman he once loved, premieres on CMT channels and platforms June 21.

“It was the one song on the album that obviously was not a very personal story from my own life,” Sutherland tells Rolling Stone Country. “I had a huge respect for Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard. These guys wrote about the dirtier side of life and the tougher aspects of life. Cash realized he wasn’t a ‘bad guy,’ and that maybe some of these people in prison aren’t ‘bad guys.’ He gave them a kind of dignity that I really respected. He created an avenue of forgiveness that I don’t think was as available at that time. I love the way he did that. So I really wanted to write a song about that.”

“Shirley Jean” is the third video releases from his debut album DOWN IN A HOLE (click here to download).

Sutherland is currently in Europe playing sold out shows after a nationwide U.S. tour in May. (Tour dates below).

Recently, Sutherland performed “Calling Out Your Name” on “The Talk,” and has also performed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The View.” Sutherland also graced the cover of Guitar Aficionado, Goldmine Magazine and Collectible Guitar issues.

Sutherland, known for his starring role in the ABC series “Designated Survivor” and Fox series “24,” also starred in movies like “Stand By Me,” “The Lost Boys,” “Young Guns,” “Flatliners,” “A Few Good Men,” “A Time to Kill,” “Dark City” “Melancholia” and most recently, a western called “Forsaken.”

Keep up with Sutherland on the road by visiting kiefersutherlandmusic.com